OTHER PUBLISHED ABSTRACTS TO THE AMERICANGASTROENTEROLOGICAL ASSOCIATION

4937

HIGH INCIDENCE OF PROTEIN S ABNORMALITIES IN PA­TIENTS WITH CATHETER-RELATED THROMBOSIS.Mahmoud M. Alkheshen, Catheleen Edick, Lawrence Hak, M. K. Ismail,Kathy Nash, Steven Deitcher, Patricia Adams Graves, Marian Dugdale,David Smalley, Thomas L. Abell, Univ of Tennessee-Memphis, Memphis,TN; Cleveland Clin, Cleveland, OH.

Background: Patients with gastroparesis requiring IV access are at risk forcatheter-related thrombosis (CRT). In this group of patients at risk forthrombosis, the incidence of Protein S deficiency and the occurrence ofsubsequent CRT is not known. Methods: We aimed to evaluate theoccurrence of a baseline hematologic or autoimmune abnormalities inpatients (pts) with Upper GI motor disorders (UGIMD) needing IV accesswho were followed for subsequent catheter-related thrombosis (CRT). Westudied 53 pts (6 m, 47 f, mean age 39 ) with gastroparesis (6 with diabetesmellitus and 47 with idiopathic disease) who underwent evaluation forhypercoagulable states and/or auto antibodies by Western blot (GE 108(4):A734, 1995). After IVA placement, pts were classified into 2 groups: thosewith clinical thrombosis (CLOT) vs. those without (NO CLOT). Resultswere analyzed by T-tests and reported as mean ± SE. Results: 53 pts withbaseline hematologic and autoimmune evaluations are summarized below.CRT was noted in 14 out of 53 pts (26%) See Tables Conclusions: A highfrequency of protein S deficiency was noted in this group of pts with GImotor disorders and catheter related thrombosis. Protein S deficiency asseen in these pts, might result from underlying inflammation and acutephase protein release. Further prospective studies are indicated to explorepossible underlying mechanisms of this observed increase of thrombosis inpts with gastrointestinal motor disorders.

4938

FAECAL CALPROTECTIN LEVELS CORRELATE WITH ACUTEINFLAMMATION IN AUTISTIC ENTEROCOLITIS.Andrew Anthony, Ingvar Bjarnason, G. Sigthorrson, Scott M. Montgom­ery, Simon Murch, Michael Thompson, John A. Walker-Smith, Andrew J.Wakefield, Rfucms, London, United Kingdom; GKT, London, UnitedKingdom.

Background: In children with autistic spectrum disorder we have identifieda syndrome characterised by ileo-colonic Iymphoidnodular hyperplasia andacute and chronic ileo-colitis (Lancet 1998;351:637-641). Aim: To evalu­ate non-invasive disease markers in autistic enterocolitis (AE). Patients/methods; In a prospective blinded study, faecal calprotectin (FC) and

intestinal permeability (IP -urinary lactose/rhamnose ratio) was studied in40 consecutive autistic children undergoing ileo-colonoscopy for gastro­intestinal symptoms (MIF 3317; ages 2-15yrs, median 6yrs) and 35 age­matched controls (MIF 19/16; age range 0.5-16yrs, median 9yrs). Eachbiopsy from the AE group was scored for extent of neutrophil infiltration(0 -none, I neutrophils in lamina propria, 2-cryptitis) and chronic inflam­matory cell infiltration (O-normal, I-mild, 2-moderate or 3-severe mucosalinfiltration). Results; The maximum neutrophil score was 0 in 19/40(47.5%), I in 11/40 (27.5%) and 2 in 10/40 (25%). FC levels weresignificantly higher in the AE children compared to controls (mean:16.7mg/L v 3.8mg/L, P<O.OI) and there was a significant positive corre­lation between faecal calprotectin and neutrophil infiltration (f3 = 6.839,P<O.OOI) in the AE children. Chronic colitis was seen in 93% of the AEchildren but there was no statistically significant correlation betweenchronic inflammation and FC. Mean IP did not differ between controls andpatients (UR 0.038 v 0.039); only two AE children were considered tohave raised IP. Conclusion; Faecal calprotectin is a marker of acute colitisin these autistic children. The results indicate that AE is a predominantlydistal disease (terminal ileum and colonic) rather than a small boweldisorder.

4939CHRONIC CONSTIPATION IN HEMIPLEGIC PATIENTS.Danilo Badiali, Fiammetta Bracci, Ugo Fuoco, Giorgio Scivoletto, PatrizioPezzotti, Enrico Corazziari, Gastroenterology I, Universita' La Sapienza,Rome, Italy; IRCSS Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy; Inst Superiore di Sanita,Rome, Italy.

Although hemiplegic patients frequently complain of bowel disorders, it isnot known whether chronic constipation is a possible outcome of cerebro­vascular accidents once the neurological lesion is stabilized. Aim of thisstudy was to assess the prevalence of chronic constipation in hemiplegicpatients and its relationship with the hemispheric injury of the brain orphysical inactivity. One hundred consecutive hemiplegic patients (F:55;mean age 67±13 yrs) and one hundred consecutive orthopedic patients(F:81; mean age 73±16 yrs), both undergoing motor rehabilitation in thesame period, in the same rehabilitative center, and on the same diet, wereinvestigated. All subjects had a normal cognitive status and were inter­viewed >3 months after injury by means of a standardized and validatedquestionnaire that enquired about the bowel habits before injury and at thetime of the interview. Chronic constipation was defined in accordance withRome diagnostic criteria. Patients mobility was evaluated by means of 0-7score point (Adapted Patient Evaluation Conference System). Results.Mobility scores of the two groups were not different (3.5± 1.7 vs 3.8±1.7)De novo presenting chronic constipation was referred by 27 hemiplegic